National Oil Corporation (NOC) chairman Eng. Mustafa Sanalla received His Excellency Elmer Cato, Philippines Ambassador to Libya, and an accompanying delegation, on Wednesday 2 September 2020, at NOC’s Tripoli headquarters.
Joining the meeting were Elamari Mohamed Elamari, NOC Board Member for Financial and Administrative Affairs, Nuri Essid, Chairman of the Management Committee of the Akakus Oil Company, and Salah Ben Ali, Manager of NOC’s International Cooperation Office.
During the meeting, attendees discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations. Ambassador Cato stated he had been in contact with a number of Filipinos working in Libya’s oil sector who had stressed their positive experience of the industry as well as the welcome they had received from fellow workers.
The recent tragic death of a Filipino oil worker was discussed. On behalf of NOC, Eng. Sanalla extended his condolences to Ambassador Cato and to individual’s family expressing deep regret over his death. NOC had taken all necessary measures to repatriate the deceased to his homeland at the earliest opportunity, he stressed.
Eng. Sanalla reaffirmed the importance to NOC of the longstanding relationship between Filipino and Libyan workers. The presence of Filipino workers in Libya’s oil sector dated back nearly fifty years and was based on mutual friendship and respect. Eng. Sanalla praised the commitment and industriousness of these Filipino workers who continue to make a valuable contribution to Libya.
Eng. Sanalla added: “There are many opportunities available for Filipino companies within the Libyan oil market. Libya’s oil industry may currently be facing challenges, but we are confident things will improve. We are optimistic that stability and prosperity will return to Libya.”
